Electric illumination of sewing machines or the like



Feb.5, 1929. I 1,701,344

H. M. STEPHENSON ELECTRIC ILLUMINATION OF SEWING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Apr iI 2, 1927 Invent/o1 l-iugh M; Stephenson Patented Eeb. I929.-

UNITED "STATES 1,701,344 PATENT. OFFICE.

HUGH M, STEPHENSON, .OE FORT WAYNE, INDIANLASSIGNOE To GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC ILLUMINATION OF SEWING MACHINES OR THE LIKE.

Application filed April '2 My invention relates to the electric illumination of sewing-machines or other similar machines. 'In the arrangements heretofore used for such illumination, the lamp has been improperly placed for the best lighting of the material to be sewn and the position of the lamp was such that there was a great likelihood of bending the-reflector or breaking the ,lamp. 7

In accordance with my invention, the lamp is placed near the material to be worked .upon so that the beam of light shines directly ,thereon without any shadows from intervening objects. Furthermore, it is so placed that it cannot be struck and thereby broken. To this end, I mount an electric lamp socket within a recess in the head of the sewing'or other machine, the light rays from the elec- 5 and a presser-bar. 6.

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triclamp in the socket shining on the material to be worked upon, so thatthere is no shadow cast by the operating mechanism on the material tr? be sewn at the point where it passes beneath the needle position. The needle is also illuminated so that, it can be threaded readily.

Other features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with par-- ticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. .For a bet ter understanding of my invention,- reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with. the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation-of a sewing machine embodying my lnvention, and Fig. 2 is'a front elevation, with parts broken away, of the sewing machine of Fig. 1. Referring tothe drawing, 1 is a cloth plate -or bed of a sewingmachine. Rising from the bed 1 at one end thereof is the usual 1101- low arm comprising the vertical member 2, horizontal member 3 and head 4. The head 4: is at the end of the arm and has mounted therein for reciprocationa usual needle bar I The needle bar carries the needle '7, and the presser-bar, the presserfoot 8. The needle bar is reciprocated by the usual mechanism within the arm, whereby stitches in the material are taken by the needle 7 and thread9, coacting with the bobbin and thread thereon (not shown).

In order'to throw a beam of 1i ht on that portion of the clothplate on whic the material to be sewn orworked upon is placed and also on the needle 7 so that it can be threaded, an electric lamp 1Q is placed m a recess of 1927. Serial NO. 180,515.

substantially the same size throughout its length formed in the lower structure of the head 4. This lamp is mounted in a lighting socket 11. The head has an aperture 12 formed in the bottom thereof through Which the lamp being so positioned with respect to the beam of light is directed, the filament of I the aperture that the light from the filament will be directed by the edge of the aperture on a relatively small area directly below the needle bar 5. The aperture is in frontof the needle bar 5, that is, when considered from the operators position when operating the machine. Consider Fig. 1 in this regard; the operatorfaces the machine as illustrated and the lamp is placed in front of the needle bar,

and the presser-bar is in back of the needle bar. In Fig. 2, the operator faces the machine from the right hand side of this figure and we have thesame relation of parts. The head has a recess 13 in substantial alignment withthe aperture 12," the socket 11 fitting in this recess. This socket may be adjusted in the recess toward and away'from the aperture, the lamp 10remaining light whereby the area illuminated is considerably varied to suit the operator. The lamp is shown in the lowest position in Fig. 2 and the area illuminated is indicated by the dot anddash lines. In Fig. 1, the'lamp is shown in its uppermost lighted position and the area illuminated is also indicated by the dot and dash lines. In

order to move the socket 11 in'the recess 13, I

a member 14 is fastened to the rear of the socket. This member is shown as being L shaped, the horizontal portion of the L having a slot'tightly engaging a slot in the insulation 15 at the rear ofthe socket in order that .thesocket cannot be-disengaged without considerable effort. To prevent the socket from turning, the slot in the member 14 and the slot in the insulation 15 have square cor- 11ers. The vertical portion of the L is engaged by a screw 16 which extends through a slot. 17 in the head 4. By loosening the screw, the. L shaped member carr ing the socket 11 and lamp 10 may be move and by tightening'up the screw again these parts may be clamped i in any desired position permitted by the length of the slot 17.

- The portion of the socket 11 engaged by the lamp 10 is made of metal, the lamp having a bayonet connection therewith. n the lightedposition'of the lamp, thesocket 11 is I in good electrical contact with the sides of I recess 13. In orderrto supply electric current to the lamp, a source of electric current is shown as a transformer 18 supplied by leads 19. The transformer may be conveniently located beneath the cloth plate 1 and fastened thereto. One side 20 of the secondary of the the screw 16 is loosened and the socket andtransformer isgrounded to the head 4:

through'the arm of the machine. a The other side 21 of the transformer is carried by' means of a conductor 22 through the hollow arm of "themachineto a spring contact 23 in the socket 11. This contact 23 is engaged by a contact'on the lamp 10. It will thus be seen that the circuit for the lamp is completed when the socket is in contact with the sides ofthe recess. In order to turn the light out.

lamp are moved into their uppermost position, whereupon the socket is moved out of contact with the sides of the recess 13, due to the cutting away or g 24; in the Wall of the head 4. When the socket and lamp are in their uppermost positions-,.the socket is completely withdrawn from the recess, but

the bulb of the lamp centers the socket 11 for re-entry into the recess 13, as the bulb of the lamp is substantially thesa-me diameter as the recess13 and the socket 11.

In order toassemb'le the socket 11 and member 14 in place in the head,'the socket is inserted in the slot in the L shaped member; the face plate is removed from the head 4, the

1 member 14 carrying the socket 11 is inserted in position through the opening which' is normally covered by the face plate, the screw 16 is then screwed into the member 14:, and .the

I tion. 1 The lamp is placed in the socket after Y thesocketis placed in the head 4, the member 40 face plate placed back'into its proper posi- 14 and the socket 10 being removed to its lowest position. a

- which do not depart from the spirit and scope By using the transformer 18 or any other source of low potential, the lamp 10 may be of the type used in flash lights or automobiles of say 3 to 6 volts. Such lamps are very rugged and will readily stand any vibration cuit of the lamp, but it may be controlled in any usual way.

I desireit to be understood that many mod-' ifications may be made" in the arrangement shown and described, and I aim in the ap pended claims to cover all modifications of my invention.

, VVhatI claim as new and desire to secure by. Lette'rs Patent of the United States, is:

1. Ina sewing machine or the like, a head,

a needle bar mounted in said head, andmcans for dlrecting a beam of light on the material to be wdrked upon-comprising an aperture formed in -the bottom of said head, and an electric lamp within said head with its filament so positioned with respect'to said aperture that the light from said filament will be directed by the edge of said aperture on a relatively small area directly below the needle bar.

2. In a sewing machine or the like, a head,

a needle bar mounted insaid head, and means for (llrectmg a beam of light on the material to be worked upon comprising an aperture formed in the bottom of said head, an "electric lamp within said head with. its filament so positioned with respect to sztid aperture that the light from said filament will be di rected by the edge of said aperture on a rela-...

tively small area directly below the needle bar, and means for adjusting said lamp toward and away from said aperture to vary the area illuminated. g

3. In a sewing machine or the like, a head, a needle bar mounted in said head, and means for directing a beam of light on the material to be worked upon comprising an aperture formed in the bottom of said head in front .of-said needle bar, an electric lamp'within said head with itsfilament sopositioned with respect to said aperture that the right from said filament will be directed'by the edge of said aperture on a relatively small area directly below the needle bar, and means for adjusting said lamp toward and away from said aperture to vary the area illuminated.

4. In a sewing machine or the like, a head, and means for directinga beam; of*light on the material to be worked upon comprising an aperture formed in the bottom of said head, a lighting socket contained within said head for the reception of an electric lamp, and

means vfor adjusting said socket toward and away from said aperture 1n order to vary the areailluminated.

r 5. Ina sewing machine or the like, a head, a needle bar mounted in said head, and means for directing a beamof light on the material to be worked upon comprising an aperture formed in the bottom of said head in front of said needle bar, said head having a recess in substantial alignment with said aperture, a lighting socket fitting in said recess, said socket being arranged for the reception of an' electric lamp, and means for adjusting said socket toward and away from said aperture in order to vary the area illuminated.

6. In a sewing machine or the like, a head, means for directing a beamof light on the material' to be worked upon comprising an aperture formed in the bottom of saidhead, a source of electric current having one side grounded to said head, said head having a recess in substantial alignment with said ap-' erture, a lighting socket fitting in said recess, 7

the other side of said source of electric current being connected to said socket, said sockct being arranged for the reception of an electric lamp, the circuit of said lamp being completed when said socket is in contact with the sides of said recess, and means for moving said socket out of contact with the sides of said recess whereby the circuit of said lamp is opened.

7. In a sewing machine or the like, a head,

a needle bar mounted'in said head, means for directing a beam of light on the material to be worked upon comprising an aperture formed in the bottom of said head in front of said needle bar, a source of electric current having one side grounded to said head, said head having a recess in substantial alignment 'with said aperture, a lighting socket fitting in said recess, the other side of said source of electric current being connected to said socket, said socket beingarranged "for i the reception of an electric lamp, the circuit of said lamp being completed when said socket is in contact witlrthe sides of said recess,-

and means for moving said socket out of contact with the sides of said recess whereby the circuit of saidv lamp is opened.-

8; In a sewing machine or the like, a head,

' a needle bar mounted in said-head, means for directing a beam of light on the material to be worked upon comprising an aperture formed in the bottom of said head in front of said needle bar, a source of electric cmrrent having one side grounded to said head, said head having a recess in substantial alignment with said aperture, a lighting socket fitting insaid recess, the other side of said source of electric current being connected to said socket, said socket being arranged for the reception of an electric lamp, the circuit of said lamp being completed when saidsocket is in contact with the sides of said recess, and means for adjusting said socket toward and away from having one side-grounded to said head, said head having a-recess in substantial alignment with said aperture, a lighting socket fitting in said recess,'the other side of said source of electric current being connected to said socket, said socket being arranged for the re ception of an electric lamp, the circuit of said lamp being completed when said socket is in I contact with the sides of said recess,and means for adjusting said socket toward and away from said aperture to vary the area illuminat-' ed and for moving said socket out of contact with the sides of said recess whereby the circuit of said lamp is opened comprising a member fastened to said socket, a screw engaging said member and extending through a slot in said head, the bulb of said lamp centering said socket for re-entry into said recess after said socket has been com tely withdrawn from said recess.

10. In a sewing machine or the like, a head, a needle bar mounted in said head, said head having a recess in the lower structure thereof, an electric lamp mounted in said recess with its filament so positioned that the light from said filament will be directed on a relatively small area directly below theneedle bar, and means for adjusting the position of said lamp to vary the area illuminated.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of March, 1927.

HUGH M. STEPHENSON, 

